Free The Watchmage of Old New York (The Watchmage Chronicles Book 1) by C.A. Sanders Page A

someone I cared about.  I knew what I should do, but I couldn’t do that to my friend.   “Tom, I’ve been your friend for a long time and your father’s for even longer, but I can’t let this happen. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”
    The flerrier mother rolled onto her back and Tom rubbed her belly.  Her legs flopped uncontrollably.  “Then I’ll sell them to wizards.  Wouldn’t you like a Flerrier for company?”
    A puppy landed on my shoulder and licked my ear.  “Keep them in the labyrinth, and make sure that no one ever sees them, including The Hellfire Club.  If they got loose... need I remind you what Warp is?”
    Tom grumbled, but acquiesced.  “In the labyrinth then.  At least I can keep that rat-free.”
    “And keep them from breeding.  You made them, you geld them.”
    I left Tom and Candace’s estate in a sour mood.  I found nothing about the kidnapping, and I now have a pack of flying puppies to worry me.  I hoped for better luck questioning Rabbi Levitt, but hope is often hard to find.

Jonas
     
    The two Redcaps had me cornered, but this time I was ready for them.  I slipped my hand into Pop’s bag and hit one dead in the eyes with rock salt.  He shrieked as his skin bubbled and melted.  The bastard staggered away and crashed into a pile of wet clapboards.
    I turned on the second one right in time to take his punch to the chin.  I fell hard, but I kicked him away when he tried to jump on me.  He came at me again and I hit him with the rest of my salt.  The Redcap screamed, but my aim wasn’t as good as the first time.  Even so, the salt burned his right arm and exposed neck.  It even burned some of his beard, which dribbled onto his coat like black ink.  He stumbled back and tried to wipe away the salt.
    The first Redcap, now blind and cursing like Hell’s alongshoreman, frantically loaded a barker.  He fumbled with the cap and dropped it.  I pulled the iron poker from under my coat and swung. I hit him on the head, knocking off his ugly blood-stained hat.  He spun like a top and crashed head first into the wall.  I left a long scorch mark on his skull, but the poker bent like a cutlass.  That’s a tough head.
    He scrambled to his feet like an angry crab and tried to bring the pistol to bear.  I knocked it from his hand and backhanded him across the face with the poker.  He slammed against the alley wall again and slid down like a splattered egg yolk.
    “That’s enough o’ that nonsense,” came a rough voice from behind.  I heard the click of a barker being cocked, and I prayed for a misfire.
    Instead I saw the wrath of God.
    A light flashed past me, and I heard a scream and sizzle from behind.  The Redcap convulsed on the ground like a holy roller.  The smell of urine mixed with the scent of burning hair. 
    I turned.  Hendricks stood in the alley, the cross around his neck glowing blue-white.  He looked at his hand, where snakes of lightning played along his fingers.  The smoldering Redcap moaned. Hendricks waggled his fingers, and lightning erupted from his outstretched hand.  The creature bounced into the air and landed on the paving stones.  He gave one pitiful whelp and faded into nothingness.
    “Where’d he go?” I asked.
    It took a moment for Hendricks to speak. “He’s too weak to maintain his form on this side of the Veil.  It’ll take years before he comes back.”  Hendricks stared at his hand.  “I didn’t know I could do that.”  The poor boy trembled while he took in the scene.  The tremble threatened to capsize his stork-like body.  He leaned against the wall for support.
    “Pop sent you to follow me.  He didn’t think that I could handle this.”
    “You couldn’t.  Be thankful your father cares enough to send me after you.”
    “Bah.”  I wiped away blood from my nose.  “Just because he’s right doesn’t mean he should’ve done it.”   I tapped the downed Redcap at my feet.  He groaned, but